However, before you start your search, toggle the button beside “Onionize” to anonymize your session. This hides your activity and personal identifiers so you can browse safely, protected from prying eyes and identity theft. In the internet’s darkest corners, a myriad of hidden websites cater to an array of needs and interests.
By traditional websites, we mean websites with domains like .com, .org, .gov, etc., and easy-to-remember names, like google.com. There are lots of perfectly legitimate reasons you might want to access all that shady content. Quinten Epting joined MUO in 2024 to share his expertise in artificial intelligence, task automation, and cybersecurity.
If you do access the dark web, use a VPN so that your connection is encrypted. And check your local laws to find out if accessing the dark web is legal. These laws should cover what you need to know about using a VPN, proxy server, or Tor Browser to connect to the internet. To learn more, check out our guide to the best VPN server countries to connect to.
Advantages Of VPN Over Tor
For instance, the Ashley Madison data dump was posted to a site only accessible to Tor users. Avast BreachGuard monitors the dark web for data breaches around the clock. If a breach is detected, BreachGuard will notify you right away and help you take the steps you need to secure your data immediately. The dark web can certainly be dangerous — with no regulation, it’s a riskier place to hang out than the surface web. Malware and scams are scattered like landmines around the dark web.
Dark Web Threats
The editorial team did not participate in the creation of this guide. Gizmodo may earn a commission when you buy through links on the site. Private Internet Access even offers the Shadowsocks proxy for added security. There’s also MultiHop that boosts your encryption, along with MACE which blocks tracking. PIA doesn’t pull punches, so it strikes back against its competition with a proven-in-court no-logs policy, split tunneling, and even port forwarding to diversify its apps. While you can visit the obscure part of the internet without a VPN, it’s better to go with one.
Install Antivirus Software
This process, called “onion routing,” makes it very hard for anyone to trace where you’re connecting from. With Tor, you can access regular websites as well as special Dark Web addresses that end in “.onion”, which you can’t open in standard browsers like Chrome or Safari. It’s a part of the internet that’s less regulated and more shadowy, for better and for worse. You need special tools to access the dark web, and the Tor Browser is the safest and most popular one.
Other Deep Web Tools
To access the surface web or the deep web, all you need is a standard internet browser like Google Chrome or Safari. For the dark web, though, you need an entirely different entry point known as an overlay network. The dark web is full of malicious actors, cybercriminals, and other people who are looking to prey on curious but unprepared dark web browsers. By defining your goal and purpose, you won’t find yourself wandering down the dimly lit corners of the dark web, and you can stay on the path you set out for yourself. The internet is almost unfathomably large, and most of us are only actively engaging with between 4-5% of it.
Dark Web Search Engines
Despite its reputation as a digital underworld, the dark web plays a crucial role in maintaining internet freedom. While it may sound intimidating, the Dark web only makes up about 5% of the internet (Spiceworks, 2025)1. For added security, use a separate device or virtual machine (VM) when accessing the dark web. A VM can act as a protective barrier between your main device and any potential threats. By following these steps, you’ll have I2P and Hyphanet set up for secure and private browsing on the dark web.
Alternative Networks: I2P And Freenet Overview
While there is a lot of criminal activity on the dark web, there’s nothing actually illegal about accessing the dark web. In certain countries, the dark web facilitates political discourse and conversation that would otherwise be censored, outlawed, or eradicated in entirety. By using a VPN to connect to Tor — a special browser designed to access the dark web — you can securely access the dark web using a technique known as Tor-over-VPN. Without a VPN, your ISP or network administrator may be able to detect, monitor, or block dark web access; Tor-over-VPN provides an extra layer of privacy. The Dark Web often gets a bad reputation because it hosts illegal markets, hacking forums, and other shady activities. Some people use it for legitimate reasons, such as journalists protecting their sources, activists in countries with heavy censorship, or individuals who simply want stronger privacy.
- Enable two-factor authentication to avoid malicious actors accessing your accounts even if they get the correct username and password.
- For example, when you sign in to your healthcare provider’s portal to view test results or request prescription refills, you’re accessing the deep web.
- This part of the internet is notorious for illegal activities, facilitated by the anonymity it offers.
- Sites often have simple black or dark-themed backgrounds and minimal design elements.
- A common inquiry from Tor users is if they should use a VPN to add an extra layer of protection.
- The performance of entry, middle, and exit nodes can vary, and some are slower than others.
Dark Web VPN: FAQs
While the Dark Web offers anonymity, it is important to remember that illegal activities thrive in this realm. Exercise caution at all times and use your best judgment when browsing and interacting on the Dark Web. Yes, we recommend that you always use a VPN if you’re accessing the dark web on your phone. The dark web is packed with potentially harmful content that puts you at risk, so a VPN is an important tool in keeping your identity and personal information safe.
Step 3: Download Tor Browser On Android
By doing this, they get access to whoever is visiting the sites — including you if you accidentally end up there. In some parts of the world, simply using a browser like Tor can get you flagged by these agencies, even if you don’t partake in illegal activity. Before engaging in any dark web activities, I recommend researching official dark web sites ahead of time — use your regular browser to look online and see which sites are reputable. There is tons of information provided online by security experts recommending trustworthy .onion links. While the surface and deep web can be accessed via regular browsers, the dark web requires special software. Tor (The Onion Router) is the most commonly used browser for the dark web.
However, in the event of a dispute don’t expect service with a smile. Every communication is encrypted, so even the simplest transaction requires a PGP key. Law enforcement officials are getting better at finding and prosecuting owners of sites that sell illicit goods and services. In the summer of 2017, a team of cyber cops from three countries successfully shut down AlphaBay, the dark web’s largest source of contraband, sending shudders throughout the network. These groups develop their own sophisticated malware, sometimes combined with pre-existing tools, and distribute them through “affiliates”. Medical records, fee-based content, membership websites, and confidential corporate web pages are just a few examples of what makes up the deep web.
